Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Chatting => Design and Construction => Topic started by: Ma Lowe on July 15, 2014, 23:41
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I don't intend to plant things in the borders of the polytunnel but will be using pots instead. I am not sure what to use on the floor. I have a slab path down the middle and gravel in the borders in my greenhouses but as the polytunnel is so much bigger I am thinking this will be expensive.
We have a regular delivery of woodchips on our site and I wondered if they would be ok to use either in the path or the borders.
What does every other polytunnel owner use?
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This is my first season with a poly-tunnel and I used a membrane covered in wood chips. The chips on the areas most walked on have become crushed and splintered in a few months. As I purchased the wood chips I am planning to change the paths to slabs next year.
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Just wondering why you won't be planting in the soil?
Thought that was the point of a polytunnel - growing in the soil as normal, but with improved conditions ?
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Just wondering why you won't be planting in the soil?
Thought that was the point of a polytunnel - growing in the soil as normal, but with improved conditions ?
I thought it might be too much faff especially when you have to dig it out and replenish the soil and I am very accident prone so digging inside could result in a fruit cage instead of a polytunnel with all the holes I may make :D
To be honest I haven't really thought mush about the planting as this year everything is already in pots and there is still a bit to do in the tunnel before I can do any planting but I will rethink my strategy :D
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I've been growing my tomatoes and chillies plus other bits in the tunnel since 2006 Ma. In the ground. Each year I chuck a load of chicken poo over it and sometimes, stuff from the compost heap, when I can get to it.
You can rotate a bit in a tunnel just like outside really. I've grown potatoes, leeks, cucumbers, melons, even a few brassicas when I had too many one year! lol
Brian even went in there with the rotavator to dig it over for me a few times!
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The flooring between the raised beds in my tunnel that's worked well for me over the last 4 or 5 years is weed-protective membrane covered by about 2 inches of pea gravel
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I plant things in the soil and rotate crops. I add compost a couple of times a year. I do have a few pots but it is a FAFF having to water sometimes twice a day. I water the plants in soil two or three times a week in summer. It is also where I sow seeds and grow on. My pt is only two by three metres. All is good far. This is my second growing season.
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Today hubby laid the slabs for the path down the middle then put wood slats along the edge. We decided to give it a go growing in the soil in the polytunnel so a friend rotivated each side for us. As said above I can rotate the crops so we will divide the beds I to 4. It's all looking good in there now, can't wait to get my first crop sown/planted in there :D
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That makes more sense to me :D
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That makes more sense to me :D
I was obviously having a blonde moment Mum but never fear common sense has come through :D
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First year with a PT, I've put tomato plants down the centre, chillies\peppers down one side in pots and cucumbers, melons and salad stuff on the other side. Did not put anything on the floor as I thought it would give slugs a hiding place